Improvement in postage and revenue stamps



J. E. WINNER.

POSTAGE ANDREVENUE STAMPS.

No.175,Z28. Patented March 21,1876.

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JOSEPH E. WINNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- PATENTQFFICE.

HALF HIS RIGHT TO HENRY K. FOX, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN POSTAGE. AND REVENUE STAMPS.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 175,228, dated March21, 1876; application filed December 29, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. WINNER, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovementin Stamps, Checks, Bonds, and all monetary papers; and I dohereby declare the following to be a clear and exact description of thenature thereof, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to whichmy invention appertains to fullyunderstand, make,

anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification, in which Figures 1 and 3 are faceviews of stamps having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similarview, the stamp irretrievably destroyed. Fig. 4 is a face view of theprotector or guard of the stamp. Fig. 5 is a face view of the blanksheet. Fig. 6 is a face view, showing the manner of producing a numberof stamps embodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts-in the severalfigures.

My invention consists of a stamp or other monetary paper having aprotected or guarded printed surface, consisting of an imperforate sheetproper forming one portion of said surface, and a protecting-pieceforming another portion of said surface integral with that of thesurface of the sheet proper, the protecting-piece being firmly affixedto the sheet at all points in such manner that it will be indicativelyinjured or destroyed,partly or entirely, by attempts to remove thecancellation-marks or alter the character of the stamp or paper. Theinvention also consists of the protector or guard constituting thedenomination of the stamp or other monetary paper, whereby also inks ofmore than one color will not be requisite in the production of stamps,860; It further consists in the manner of constructin g the protector orguard, whereby the whole sheet of stamps may have the protector 'orguard applied to each stamp of the sheet.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an imperforate piece of paper,on which is to be printed a stamp, check, or other instrument of amonetary character. B represents a film or thin piece of paper or othermaterial, whose dimensions are such that when it is laid on the piece Ait will occupy but a portion of the surface of said piece, and one faceof the film is coated with an adhesive preparation, so that the saidfilm mav be made to adhere firmly to the surface of the piece A.

Prior to the operation of printing the stamps and other monetary papersthe blank paper will be moistened and the film laid thereon. Then theprinting takes place, the impression being made on the surfaces both ofthe piece A or paper proper and film B, and the film due to theconsequent pressure adhering to the piece and becoming integraltherewith.

It will be seen that the appearance of the stamp or other paper A is inno way altered, and its aspect is in no respect different from that ofstamps or papers in use.

The operation will here be described with special reference to stamps.If the canceled stamp is washed, scraped, or rubbed in order to removethe cancellation-marks the film will become rough and furred, and thusindicate the attempt at restoration. If the canceled stamp is laid inwater, acid, or other fluid the film will loosen, but it will beimpossible to restore it to its primitive location, hence the stamp(owing to the delicacy of the engraving) is irretrievably injured. Thefilm will be cut in sheets with pieces removed therefrom, so as to forma series of cross-bars, strips, or other figures B, Fig. 6, which may beregular or irregular, the construction being such that when the preparedsheet of film is placed on the piece A of paper (shown in dotted lines)on which a sheet of stamps is to be printed, at least one strip, bar, orfigure of the film will fit on the portion of the paper constituting theconfines of an individual stamp, so that no stamp will escape having apiece of the protecting film as a portion of its face.

In order to indicate the denomination of the stamp the film is availabletherefor. For this purpose I employ films of various colors, wherebydifi'erent colored inks are rendered unnecessary, since the color of theprotecting film will indicate the denomination of the stamp, and thus,also, all stamps may be printed in the same color, as, for illustration,with black ink; but the protective feature of the film is in no wiseaffected by its additional service as an indicator of denominations.

In checks, drafts, bonds, &c., the film will be placed where the amountsof the same, or other important words, figures, or characteristics arewritten or located.

The material of which the film is composed should be of a most sensitivenature, so as to indicate the slightest attempt to restore the canceledstamp.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a stamp with a protecting filmof thin or sensitive material, and I therefore do not claim the samebroadly; but

What 1 do claim, is-

1. The protecting film B, firmly secured at all points to theimperforate body-piece A, and forming an integral portion of the stamp,and of the design subsequently printed upon set forth.

JOSEPH E. WINNER. Witnesses:

J NO. A. WIEDERSHEIM, H. E. H INDMARSH.

